Hey guys anybody have an opinion on the Samson arbor plex rope? It seems to meet all the requirements necessary and seems to be priced significantly lower than a lot of the other ropes. Tell me what ya think or give me some recomendations on what the best bang for my buck would be. There seems to be five million ropes out there an I am having a heck of a time sorting it all out. Thanks

Arborplex is yucky stuff to climb on. I highly unrecommend it.

For beginning climbers I usually recommend one of the 16 strand lines. Samson Arbormaster (Blue Streak), New England Safety Blue/Hi-V, and Yale XTC are all excellent ropes.

Leon gives good advice. Arborplex is cheaper for a reason.

The ones he listed are good. I would recommend Blaze, Fly, and Velocity if you are interested in the weight savings and don't mind having less rope to hold on to in your hands.

What kind of climbing do you have in mind?

My first rope was New England Braided Safety Blue and it treated me very well.

love
nick

well i must be the black sheep of ropes, because i Love my ArborPlex for climbing.

soooo whats so bad about it? because i've never runinto any issues.

Originally posted by SRT-Tech
well i must be the black sheep of ropes, because i Love my ArborPlex for climbing.

soooo whats so bad about it? because i've never runinto any issues.

Keep on lov'in it SRT-Tech, if it works for you more power.

I don't think it's just the Arborplex that anyone's complaining about. It's more that it's a 12-strand rope. Has it's own special qualitites. 16-strand and 24-strand are smooth in the hand and run through hardware better. Then again they cost more.
-Moss the Barbarian

BSU (the place I work at) has some arborplex on my behalf. Bought it before I knew better, and don't care for it. I find it stiff and squirrelly. That said, it's plenty strong, and if it works for you then don't let anybody talk you out of using it.

I bought 150 ft from Sherrill a while back ( because of the low cost) during one of the local Tree Climbing competition demonstrations in town. I have used it for climbing and it was fine. It is a little bigger diameter (true ½ in). than my other rope but it works fine. It does operate with a traditional system, It grabs too much on a split tail and definitely it is too big to flow freely thru a Grigri on descending. I now used that rope for lowering cut branches or to haul gear and stuff into a tree.

If your on a tight budget, id say go with the arbor plex. as others have said its cheaper for a reason due to its different characteristics. dont think its a bad rope though. i started with 120ft of arbor plex and it served its purpose. in the end, its all up to which rope feels best in your hand. hope that helped.
-Tree_Frog55

My 2 cents worth to Tuff Gong. . .
Take a look at Samson Yellow Jacket via SHERRILLtree.
Click This Link> http://gear.sherrilltree.com/iwwida.pvx?;products_no_tree?cat=YLLWJKT?comp=SHE

I don’t have the specs in front of me but in general, it’s cheap & light for a 16 strand 1/2” arborist line.

NOTE: If you’re a new climber on a budget, any approved climbing line should be O.K. I would suggest 1/2” line (like ArborPlex) over the skinny 7/16 (11mm) stuff, but even econo-thread like Yale SportLine will get ya’ in the tree.

As time goes on you’ll have plenty of time to try all the different stuff available.
In my early days I started out with a 70’ remnant of 7/16 Yale. It served me well until I eventually matured into all the high-tech “must have” bling-bling climbing line that sits in my basement waiting for its turn to get used.

www.wtsherrill.com/index.asp

Originally posted by MarkF
BSU (the place I work at) has some arborplex on my behalf. Bought it before I knew better, and don't care for it. I find it stiff and squirrelly. That said, it's plenty strong, and if it works for you then don't let anybody talk you out of using it.

i'm wondering if they changed the "recipe" for Arborplex, or the way they manufacture it.........??? the batch i got (120' and 150' ) was pretty soft right outta the bag, works great with a (Arborplex) splittail and knots easily once broken in. I also tend to run (any of my ropes) thru a ringed cambium saver or a floating false crotch - i think i have run the Arborplex once over a limb (with a canvas pad).

i dunno, I just love how CHEAP it is ($) (from baileys). I can actually afford to buy lots for rec or work. Next purchase will be a full spool (600' ) of it. I can buy a full spool (600' ) from baileys, for the same price as 200' locally here in vancouver (pretty sick the local price gouging eh? ) .

Thanks for all of the information. I think what it all comes down to is, everybody has there own favorite ice cream... its kind of a matter of trying a few different flavors untill you know the one that makes your taste buds smile;0) I think geographically things are against me because I can't seem to find anybody in my area that is into this "activity" although Oldtimer has extended a welcoming hand to "show me the ropes" so I will be contacting him and maybe get a feel for the ropes and climbing techniques that he uses. Once again thank you guys.

SRT-Tech (and others), if you're interested in saving money on a spool of Arbor-Plex, Blue Ridge Arborist Supply BRAS beats the pants off Bailey's.

WOW!!!! 1/2" x 600' Arbor-Plex
Item No: 346032006030 $290.25

VS

baileys: $339.95 (which even still is a screaming good deal!!!)

daaaaaaaaaaamn!!!!

just noticed baileys is now sellign XTC Fire!

I gotta be honest here...I really dislike the green stripe on arbor plex!

love
nick